Artist: Handsome Furs
Album: Face Control
Year: 2009
Grade: 4.5 pretzels
I must say…the Canadian music this year is amazing me. I guess this shouldn’t come as a surprise, since the same musicians who made Canada seem awesome earlier this decade are still to blame. However, what’s strange about these albums is that they all seem to feature artists working outside of their “main” bands. Handsome Furs are the quintessential example of this, featuring Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade collaborating with his wife Alexei Perry. Wolf Parade already made a very strong impression with 2005’s Apologies To The Queen Mary, so Handsome Furs was looked at as a promising offshoot when they started recording in 2007. Their first album, Plague Park, was certainly interesting, but many, including myself, ultimately found it rather boring. It seemed like a typical side-project: a handful of half-formed ideas that needed to be polished.
Face Control is Handsome Furs’ attempt at breaking out of that side-project status, in order to be taken seriously as a fully fledged band in their own right. Escaping from the shadow of Wolf Parade is suddenly easier, since their last album, At Mount Zoomer, was a staggering disappointment. Not unlike fellow Canucks the New Pornographers, Wolf Parade sounded like a band that needed to spend some time apart, so that the creative juices could start flowing again. Face Control reassures me that, as one half of Wolf Parade’s songwriting partnership, Boeckner still has a solid grasp on his own song style.
The album is an impressive testament to the power of minimalism. The Handsome Furs aesthetic contains very little beyond simple programmed beats, a few synth riffs, squiggles and Boeckner’s ragged electric guitar work. However, instead of sounding lazy or undercooked, the lack of clutter in the songs gives them an edgy immediacy. The echoing drum effects on “Evangeline” are all that’s needed to hold the listener’s attention while the song gradually builds to its climax. Boeckner’s guitar stabs are slowly introduced, showing an impressive sense of restraint that was missing from the recent Wolf Parade efforts. Even at their most dense, such as the lead single “I’m Confused”, there are very few parts to this music. The simplicity is a virtue, letting the songwriting peek out through the bare-bones musical surroundings.
Wolf Parade proved that Boeckner has a talent for wiry, emotional songs. 2005’s “It’s A Curse” was one of the clear highlights from Wolf Parade’s first album, showcasing his punchy guitar playing and weathered, yelpy voice. It feels like the musical predecessor for most of the material on Face Control, particularly “Legal Tender”, the eerie, scratchy number that opens the album. Boeckner’s songs have a distinct darkness creeping around their edges, which is only underlined by his strained vocal delivery. However, he also has a talent for soaring, anthemic melodies and Face Control closes with two of his finest in “Thy Will Be Done” and “Radio Kaliningrad”. The last is particularly moving, rising out of a cloud of electronic noise before the strident, driving melody takes hold. It finds the strangest of balances between New Order and Springsteen.
Alexei Perry’s contributions should not be ignored. Her beats are effective and imaginative, providing a solid anchor for Boeckner’s guitar. However, Boeckner inevitably becomes the focal point of the band. His style and intensity (I saw him play a whole Wolf Parade show with a fever of 102 a few years ago) are unmistakable. Handsome Furs have proven they are just as deft and capable when it comes to music as Boeckner’s more famous band. With albums this strong, Handsome Furs might just eclipse them if Wolf Parade doesn’t get their act together soon.
Face Control is Handsome Furs’ attempt at breaking out of that side-project status, in order to be taken seriously as a fully fledged band in their own right. Escaping from the shadow of Wolf Parade is suddenly easier, since their last album, At Mount Zoomer, was a staggering disappointment. Not unlike fellow Canucks the New Pornographers, Wolf Parade sounded like a band that needed to spend some time apart, so that the creative juices could start flowing again. Face Control reassures me that, as one half of Wolf Parade’s songwriting partnership, Boeckner still has a solid grasp on his own song style.
The album is an impressive testament to the power of minimalism. The Handsome Furs aesthetic contains very little beyond simple programmed beats, a few synth riffs, squiggles and Boeckner’s ragged electric guitar work. However, instead of sounding lazy or undercooked, the lack of clutter in the songs gives them an edgy immediacy. The echoing drum effects on “Evangeline” are all that’s needed to hold the listener’s attention while the song gradually builds to its climax. Boeckner’s guitar stabs are slowly introduced, showing an impressive sense of restraint that was missing from the recent Wolf Parade efforts. Even at their most dense, such as the lead single “I’m Confused”, there are very few parts to this music. The simplicity is a virtue, letting the songwriting peek out through the bare-bones musical surroundings.
Wolf Parade proved that Boeckner has a talent for wiry, emotional songs. 2005’s “It’s A Curse” was one of the clear highlights from Wolf Parade’s first album, showcasing his punchy guitar playing and weathered, yelpy voice. It feels like the musical predecessor for most of the material on Face Control, particularly “Legal Tender”, the eerie, scratchy number that opens the album. Boeckner’s songs have a distinct darkness creeping around their edges, which is only underlined by his strained vocal delivery. However, he also has a talent for soaring, anthemic melodies and Face Control closes with two of his finest in “Thy Will Be Done” and “Radio Kaliningrad”. The last is particularly moving, rising out of a cloud of electronic noise before the strident, driving melody takes hold. It finds the strangest of balances between New Order and Springsteen.
Alexei Perry’s contributions should not be ignored. Her beats are effective and imaginative, providing a solid anchor for Boeckner’s guitar. However, Boeckner inevitably becomes the focal point of the band. His style and intensity (I saw him play a whole Wolf Parade show with a fever of 102 a few years ago) are unmistakable. Handsome Furs have proven they are just as deft and capable when it comes to music as Boeckner’s more famous band. With albums this strong, Handsome Furs might just eclipse them if Wolf Parade doesn’t get their act together soon.
I must say, your comment about programed beats and synth riffs as a testament to the bands minimalism initially struck me as oxymoronic, though listening to these songs i cant really say i disagree. I guess I usually just consider those aspects to go in after all the normal stuff.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Canada gave us Neil Young and Rush, for that they can never be forgotten. However, they also brought us Nickleback, for which they can never be forgiven.
Actually, "Legal Tender" reminds me a lot of Post Stardom Depression.
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